Methods for gas filter fluid processing systems

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2020246740-A1
Application number	US-202016854358-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Apr 21, 2020
Priority date	Mar 21, 2014
Publication date	Aug 6, 2020
Grant date	—

Abstract

A method for filtering a gas includes passing a gas into a compartment of a casing that includes a polymeric film, the casing having: a first sleeve having a first outlet opening, a first filter being at least partially disposed within the first sleeve so that gas passing through the first sleeve must pass through the first filter; and a second sleeve having an second outlet opening, a second filter being at least partially disposed within the second sleeve so that gas passing through the second sleeve must pass through the second filter, the second sleeve being closed so that the gas passing into the compartment of the casing passes through the first sleeve and the first filter and directly contacts at least a portion of the first sleeve comprised of the polymeric film but does not pass through the second sleeve. Opening the second sleeve when a predetermined condition is met so that the gas passes through the second sleeve and the second filter.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A method for filtering a gas comprising:
passing a gas into a compartment of a casing comprised of a polymeric film, the casing comprising:
a first sleeve having a first outlet opening, a first filter being at least partially disposed within the first sleeve so that gas passing through the first sleeve must pass through the first filter; and
a second sleeve having an second outlet opening, a second filter being at least partially disposed within the second sleeve so that gas passing through the second sleeve must pass through the second filter, the second sleeve being closed so that the gas passing into the compartment of the casing passes through the first sleeve and the first filter and directly contacts at least a portion of the first sleeve comprised of the polymeric film but does not pass through the second sleeve; and
opening the second sleeve when a predetermined condition is met so that the gas passes through the second sleeve and the second filter.

2 . The method as recited in claim 1 , wherein opening the second sleeve comprises opening a clamp closed across a portion of the casing comprised of the polymeric film.

3 . The method as recited in claim 2 , wherein the clamp is opened either manually or automatically when the predetermined condition is met.

4 . The method as recited in claim 1 , further comprising sensing, either directly or indirectly, a pressure of the gas within the compartment of the casing, the predetermined condition comprising the sensed pressure of the gas reaching a predetermined pressure level.

5 . The method as recited in claim 1 , wherein the gas passes through both the first filter and the second filter when the second sleeve is opened.

6 . The method as recited in claim 1 , wherein the first sleeve outwardly expands when the gas is passed into the compartment of the casing.

7 . The method as recited in claim 1 , wherein the first filter and the second filter each have a pore size smaller than 1 μm.

8 . The method as recited in claim 1 , wherein the gas passed into the compartment of the casing comes from a bioreactor or fermentor where cells or microorganisms are being grown.

9 . The method as recited in claim 1 , wherein a portion second sleeve that is comprised of a polymeric film is directly connected to a portion of the first sleeve that is comprised of a polymeric film.

10 . The method as recited in claim 1 , further comprising applying heat to the first sleeve through a heating jacket disposed against the first sleeve.

11 . A method for filtering a gas comprising:
passing a gas through a compartment of a filter assembly, the filter assembly comprising:
a casing bounding the compartment and having an inlet opening through which the gas is introduced and a first sleeve with a first outlet opening, the casing being comprised of a polymeric film; and
a first filter at least partially disposed within the first sleeve so that the gas passing from the inlet opening to the first outlet opening must pass through the first filter;
forming a first seal across a first section of the casing at a location between the inlet opening and the first filter so that a first sub-compartment is formed within the casing between the first filter and the first seal; and severing the casing either along the first seal or at a location between the first seal and the inlet opening so as to separate a first portion of the filter assembly from the remainder of the filter assembly, the first portion including the first sub-compartment and the first filter.

12 . The method as recited in claim 11 , wherein the step of forming the seal comprises forming a weld seal across the portion of the casing.

13 . The method as recited in claim 12 , wherein the step of severing comprises cutting the casing along the weld seal so as to bisect the weld seal.

14 . The method as recited in claim 11 , wherein the step of forming the seal comprises placing a clamp across the portion of the casing.

15 . The method as recited in claim 11 , wherein forming the first seal prevents gas from passing from the inlet opening to the first outlet opening.

16 . The method as recited in claim 11 , wherein passing the gas through the compartment of the filter assembly causes the gas to directly contact a portion of the first sleeve comprised of a polymeric film.

17 . The method as recited in claim 11 , wherein the filter assembly further comprises:
the casing comprising a second sleeve with a second outlet opening; and a second filter at least partially disposed within the second sleeve so that gas passing from the inlet opening to the second outlet opening must pass through the second filter, the second sleeve and the second filter not comprising a portion of the first portion of the filter assembly.

18 . The method as recited in claim 17 , further comprising:
forming a second seal across a second section of the casing at a location between the inlet opening and the second filter so that a second sub-compartment is formed within the casing between the second filter and the second seal; and severing the casing either along the second seal or at a location between the second seal and the inlet opening so as to separate a second portion of the filter assembly from the remainder of the filter assembly.

19 . The method as recited in claim 11 , further comprising:
dispensing a gas into the first sub-compartment; and testing the integrity of the first filter using the gas dispensed in the first sub-compartment.

20 . The method as recited in claim 19 , wherein the gas is dispensed into the first sub-compartment through a tube coupled with the first sleeve.

Assignees

• Life Technologies Corp

Inventors

• Brown Jason D
• Staheli Clinton C
• Jones Nephi D

Classifications

• B01F27/2121

  composed of interconnected parts · CPC title

• B01F23/231262

  having disc shape · CPC title

• B01F27/88

  with a separate receptacle-stirrer unit that is adapted to be coupled to a drive mechanism · CPC title

• B01F27/90

  with paddles or arms · CPC title

• B01F35/513

  Flexible receptacles, e.g. bags supported by rigid containers · CPC title